Downspout drainage system



Aug. 14, 1962 F. J. CRUMMEL 3,048,983 DOWNSPOUT DRAINAGE SYSTEM Filed Aug. 13, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet l Fred J- Crumme/ INV EN TOR.

Aug. 14, 1962 F. J. CRUMMEL 3,048,983

DOWNSPOUT DRAINAGE SYSTEM Filed Aug. 13, 1959 3 SheetsSheet 2 Fred J Crumme/ INVENTOR.

BY (my 3% 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fred J. Crumme/ 1N VEN TOR.

F. J. CRUMMEL Aug. 14, 1962 DOWNSPOUT DRAINAGE SYSTEM Filed Aug. 13, 1959 Fig. .9

United States Patent Ofiice 3,048,983 Patented Aug. 14, 1962 3,848,983 DOWNSPGUT DRAINAGE SYSTEM Fred J. Qrumxnel, 422 N. 7th St., Beatrice, Nebr. Filed Aug. 13, 1959, Ser. No. 833,551 2 Claims. (Cl. 61-15) This invention relates to downspout drainage systems and more particularly to a downspout drainage system providing improvements over all other types of downspout draining devices.

An object of the invention is to provide a drainage system which is a distinct improvement over current methods of draining water from gutters and downspouts on houses and buildings having any type of conventional size and shape downspouts.

Briefly, the downspout drainage system in accordance with the invention may be embodied in a device which is anchored preferably in the ground, and which is coupled directly to the downspout. A basin is formed in the device to receive the water from the downspout, and this basin is vented preferably along both sides with the back of the basin made to fit close to the building wall. An apron extending from the basin has a gentle slope and opens laterally as the water progresses from the basin to the discharge end of the apron.

An important feature of the invention is found in a lip which is downturned at the discharge end of the apron to prevent backfiow of water toward the foundation of the building.

Another important feature of at least some forms of the invention is the backwash plate along the rear edge of the top of the basin to prevent water from overflowing or otherwise running behind the device and ultimately finding its way into the foundation area or basement of the building.

Although there are many other features of the invention, as will become evident to those skilled in the art as the description proceeds, the final feature to be mentioned is in the method of anchoring the device. It is attached directly in the ground so that it cannot move once it is set and so that the angularity of the device may be adjusted to obtain the proper slope for flowing the water from the basin down the apron.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one form of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of another form of the invention.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view showing the device of FIGURE 1 partially assembled.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the device forming the cover for the basin and is adapted to be fitted over the basin walls shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of one type of coupling which may be used for connecting non-circular downspout in the circular opening in the top wall of the basin.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a collar used for connecting a downspout to the basin.

FIGURE 8 is a top View of a blank from which a large part of the device is constructed.

FIGURE 9 is a top view of another blank from which the portion of the device shown in FIGURE 5 is constructed.

In the accompanying drawings reference is first made to drainage device 10 shown in FIGURE 1. Although the illustration of device 10 and the procedure of assembly involves sheet metal work, for instance aluminum or galvanized metal, it is to be clearly understood that the principles of the invention may be practiced in connection with devices made from other materials, e.g., a proper grade and classification of plastic.

Mechanically, the device It) is made of a basin 12, an apron 14, anchors 15, 16, 17 and 18, together with means by which to couple the basin with a downspout 20. The basin 12 has a rear Wall 22, a pair of side walls 24 and 26, and a bottom wall 28. The top of the basin is closed by means of upper wall 30 which has a skirt 32 depending from three sides thereof and fitted over and secured to the upper ends of walls 22, 24, and 26. The front of the basin is open, except for a shallow upper wall portion 31 over which a portion of skirt 32 extends and the opposite ends of the skirt 32 disposed over the wall portions 31 terminate in rearwardly directed tabs 33 overlying and secured to the forward ends of the side walls 24 and 26 and the side skirt 32.

Apron 14 is formed as a continuation of the bottom 28 of the basin. However, it is outwardly flared, i.e. increasing in width when measuring transversely across the apron and moving in a direction toward the discharge end 36 of the apron. Apron 14 has two sides 37 and 38 formed as extensions of sides 26 and 24 of the basin, and they have sleeves 40 and 42 at their outer extremities. Anchors l7 and 18 are rods which are slipped into and frictionally and/or otherwise held in place within sleeves 40 and 42. Anchors 15 and 16 are preferably angle iron members with sharp lower ends to facilitate penetration into the ground. The angle iron anchors 15 and 16 can be riveted, spot welded or otherwise fastened to the corners of the basin 12 at the rear thereof.

There are side vents 50 and 52 in the basin at the upper part thereof, and they are formed with inwardly extending flaps 54 and 56 to function as splash shields. In the embodiment of FIGURE 1 there is an additional vent 5 in wall 22 to be able to install the device so that water can be diverted in any desired direction. Two of the vents will always be open at least a quarter of an inch. The purpose of the vents is to avoid solid freezing and prevent leaves from gathering in the basin.

Collar 60 is connected with top wall 30 of basin 12 and is in registry with the aperture 62 therein. The collar 60 has a flange 64 which may be riveted or otherwise fastened to wall 30 thereby holding the collar in place so that downspout 20 may fit directly into engagement with the collar. Should the occasion demand, an adapter 66 having a non-circular end 68, for instance rectangular, and a circular end 70, may be interposed between collar 60 and a downspout which has a rectangular cross-section.

An important feature of the device 10 is the shield 76 at the forward edge of the apron 14. The shield consists of a panel of rather short depth but it deflects the water downwardly and outwardly, away from the building to prevent backwash or backflow toward the building foundation. Another important feature is the backwash plate 78 at the rear edge of wall 30. The backwash plate is preferably rounded in cross-section and forms an abutment to prevent water from flowing rearwardly across basin wall 30 e.g. during a heavy rain or thaw, and against the building to ultimately flow downwardly along the building wall and enter the building at the foundation level or below. An important function of plate 78 is to simplify installation on houses having only one length of downspout and no elbows connected with the gutter. In order to connect the downspout to collar 60, the top 30 is placed at the outer edge of the basin top and the downspout inserted aoaaeaa into collar 60, and the top is again shoved back into its proper place and adjusted on the basin and secured, with curved plate 78 occupying the position shown in FIG- URE 4.

Device a is shown in FIGURE 2 as a modification of device 10. The device 10a is for use at a corner of a building where the device is to be angled away from that corner. The only essential difference between the device 10 and device 10:: is in the number of anchors, there being only one angle anchor a connected to the apical part 80 of the back wall 22a of the basin. The back wall of the basin is made angular to conform to the desired angularity of the device with reference to the building. This can be done by an extra panel in V-shaped configuration at the rear of the basin and of course, the top wall a is shaped to conform to the new horizontal cross-sectional shape of the basin. Otherwise, the functional utility of the device 10a is the same as the device 10.

FIGURES 8 and 9 show two blanks 84 and 85 from which certain portions of the device 10 are constructed. The dotted lines in these figures are lines along which the blanks 84 and 85 may be folded to form the various walls, panels and portions of the device 10. Junctions are made by conventional metal working techniques such as riveting, spot welding, etc., and the selection of the fastening medium will be dictated at least in part by the type of material which is used.

In installing device 10 or devices 10a the ground anchors are simply pushed in the ground with the discharge end of apron 14 slightly lower than the basin so that there will be a proper amount of fall enabling the water to flow properly i.e. in a direction away from the building. This is all that is required after the downspout is coupled with the basin of the device. Maintenance is minimal, and even if the device is to be painted, it may be painted while it remains anchored.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the ininvention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A downspout device comprising a basin of water impervious material, said basin including an elongated bottom wall having a pair of upstanding opposite side 4.- walls projecting upwardly therefrom and a rear wall interconnecting the rear marginal edge portions of said bottom and opposite side walls, the rear portion of said side walls including extensions projecting upwardly above the forward portion of said side walls, the forward ends of said extensions terminating in partial inturned upper forward wall portions extending across an intermediate portion of said basin, a plurality of ground anchors connected to said basin and depending downwardly therefrom, below said bottom wall for securement in the ground beneath the lower end of the downspout, a cover portion for said basin including an upper wall portion of the size and shape corresponding to the area defined by and overlying the upper edges of said extensions, partial forward wall portions and said rear wall, the opposite sides of said upper wall portion including a pair of depending side skirts and the forward end of said upper wall portion including a depending front skirt, the rear of said cover portion being open between said side skirts and engageable with said basin upon rearward movement of said cover portion rearwardly of said basin from the forward end of the latter with said side skirts embracing said extensions and said front skirt disposed immediately forward of and adjacent the forward surfaces of said partial forward wall portions, retaining means carried by and depending slightly from the rear marginal edge portion of said upper wall portion for releasable engagement with the upper marginal portion of the rear surface of said rear Wall thereby releasably retaining said cover portion in position over the rear portion of said basin against forward movement relative thereto, said upper wall portion having an aperture formed therein, an upwardly projecting collar disposed about said opening, secured to said upper wall portion at its lower end and adapted at its upper end for telescopic engagement with the lower end of a downspout.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said bottom wall is tapered, the forward discharge end of said bottom wall being wider than the rear end thereof, said forward portions of said side walls being forwardly divergent.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

